Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) Family: Laridae By Rachel Myers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician The Franklin’s Gull is a small gull species that migrates through our region of the upper Texas coast. Breeding Franklin’s Gulls have a black head, red bill, and white eye crescents. Franklin’s Gulls also often show a rosy cast on their […]

Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) Family: Passerellidae By Grace Yaros, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician Nelson’s Sparrows are small, colorful sparrows of wet, dense grasslands and marshes. They are white below with orange chests and sides, and their orange faces contrast with their gray cheeks. They are quite round, with short, spiky tails. LeConte’s Sparrows are […]

Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway) Family: Falconidae By Rachel Myers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician The Crested Caracara is a large tropical falcon and the only member of the caracara group to reach the United States. Caracaras are members of a neotropical group with several species ranging from Central to South America. The Crested Caracara stands […]

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) Family: Motacillidae By Grace Yaros, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician American Pipits are small, sparrow-sized birds with long legs and long tails, giving them a lanky appearance. They are a pale brown-gray color above and white below with brown streaks. They can be easily identified in flight by their distinctive “pi-pit!” […]

Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) Family: Anatidae By Rachel Myers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician The Blue-winged Teal is a small dabbling duck and the second most abundant duck in North America. Breeding males have brown bodies with dense black speckles and a bluish-gray head with a bold white crescent in front of the eye. Females […]

Barred Owl (Strix varia) Family: Strigidae By Grace Yaros, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician Named for the horizontal brown stripes along the top of their chest, Barred Owls are large, brown-and-white owls with black eyes and striped underparts. They can be distinguished from the similarly large Great Horned Owl by their dark eyes and the […]

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) Family: Alaudidae By Rachel Myers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician The Horned Lark is a small brown songbird with a long body and neck, small bill, and upright posture. Males have yellow faces with a distinct black mask that make them easy to identify. Males also have two tiny head feathers […]

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) Family: Paridae The Tufted Titmouse is a small gray bird that is related to the chickadee. They have a large head and eyes as well as a thick neck, pointed crest, stout bill, and full body. Their coloring is a soft gray on top, white on bottom, a rusty streak down […]

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) Family: Ardeidae The Little Blue Heron is a small heron (~ 60 cm) found throughout the Southeastern U.S mainly during the spring and summer, although year round populations occur along the Gulf Coast and in Florida. Little Blues are often overlooked due to their dark coloration and smaller size; however, […]